Tantalum: Hey Angela can you tell us a little about the shoot you produced for our current issue?
Angela Marklew: “PRINCESS” was born because my stylist and I wanted to shoot a print story. We wanted it to be a little over the top – combining multiple prints into each look. Once we had conceptualized the wardrobe, I had to find a suitable location. I knew I wanted to shoot outdoors and that I wanted the clothing to stand out in the location. Griffith Park in Los Angeles was chosen – everything was really dry, which gave the perfect brown/yellow colour palette which would contrast nicely with the colours in the garments.
Tantalum: What kind of direction did you give the wardrobe stylist, hair and makeup artists?
Angela Marklew: When I collaborate with my team, I tend not to give a lot of direction, as I want everyone to bring their own ideas to the table. This shoot was no different. I told my stylist that I wanted A LOT of different prints and she made the suggestion of using printed scarves as head wraps. For hair and makeup, I told Chelsea and Vanessa what the theme of the shoot was and what the mood would be and let them have creative freedom from there. That being said, I have final approval before we start shooting.
Tantalum: What inspires you?
Angela Marklew: An easier question to answer would be what doesn’t inspire me! I find a lot of inspiration in locations (both urban and rural). I tend to look at something and think about how I could make it the backdrop to an editorial. I’m also really inspired by music – by the feelings that different pieces of music can invoke.
Tantalum: In general, during a session, how many pics would you say you take to find "the right one"?
Angela Marklew: This one doesn’t really have an easy answer because it varies. There are a number of factors that come into play – the chemistry between the model and I and the experience and comfort level of the model being the two most important. There are a handful of models I shoot with regularly that just give me shot after shot of pure magic – they move so freely and so much that they make me chase them. In this case I know I have “the shot” after only a few frames but I keep shooting because I want to see what they’ll do next. In other situations, it can be a longer process. On the shoots where the model needs a lot of direction and isn’t as fluid, as soon as I get the shot we move on. In some cases it can take 40-50 frames before I get exactly the mood I’m looking for.
Tantalum: How do you decide on locations & subjects?
Angela Marklew: Most of the time, I chose my locations and models after coming up with the story idea. That way, I can find a location and a model(s) that fit my vision for the story. Occasionally, I will choose the location first and come up with a story (and then a model) designed to fit. For editorials, I don’t like using the same locations more than once (unless I can make them look different). I think this comes down to my need to explore and see new things.
Tantalum: Some photographers say that while shooting it feels very spiritual and photo ops simply present themselves as a gift....do you ever feel that way and do you think there is such a thing as someone really having a "natural eye" for photography?
Angela Marklew: Regarding the first part of the question, I don’t necessarily feel that photos present themselves as “gifts”. I do know there are times when everything seems to perfectly align and you get a magical shot but for the most part, my photos happen due to a lot of planning and forethought. I definitely think there is truth in someone having a “natural eye”. There’s a quote from David Bailey where he says “In photography everything is so ordinary; it takes a lot of looking before you learn to see the ordinary”. If you hand a dozen people the same camera and ask them to photograph the same subject you’ll get twelve different photos. Of these twelve photos, I would guess that 10 are simply different representations of what the subject looked like. The remaining two photos will show you how the photographers felt about the subject – and in turn, make you feel something as well. In my opinion, anyone can take a photo – sometimes even a great photo – but it takes a person with a natural ability to “see the ordinary” to take consistently great photos that invoke a feeling in the viewer. This also reminds me of another quote (the source of which is unknown): “A camera, like a guitar, is just a box with a hole in it. Until it is placed in the hands of a true artist, it will not make music, only noise.”
Tantalum: The collection has a bit of a safari feel. Was this on purpose?
Angela Marklew: It didn’t start out that way in the planning stages, but once the model, wardrobe and location were brought together we just went with it.
Tantalum: Do you have other creative outlets? Which do you get the greatest satisfaction from?
Angela Marklew: I don’t draw or paint – I never really had the patience for either. Everything creative I do is in some way related to photography. For a while I was really into bookbinding, and I made all sorts of weird little photo books. I play around with collage and re-photographing. Currently, I’m slowly getting into shooting video. I’m finding out there are so many ways I want to light things and images I want to capture that will really only be possible with a moving camera. Right now, I still get the greatest satisfaction from still photography but I can see the balance shifting to video in the future.
Tantalum: As an artist do you find yourself drifting away from one form of media to another, devoting your creative forces solely to the media at hand. Or do you try to divide up your time more equally?
Angela Marklew: Creatively speaking, photography consumes my life. I think of everything in terms of still photos. Video has started to tug at my coat sleeves but it’s not a big part of my life yet.
Tantalum: What is the ONE lasting impression you want to leave in your photos?
Angela Marklew: In a world where we are inundated with images, I simply want the viewer to remember mine. That will happen if I am successful in invoking emotion from them. Regardless of whether it’s positive or negative, I want them to feel strongly – although I prefer a positive reaction! I’m drawn to photography because it is the only way I’m capable of sharing how I see the world. So if I can make someone see something beautiful or interesting where previously they had only seen “the ordinary”, then I feel successful.